Love as Christ Loved

[Booty]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]As I see it, the more we help people with learning to love as Christ loved the less problem we all have with messy details. [/quote]

Dear Bill,

It would seem that way wouldn't it? I wonder though, it sometimes seems to me the more we learn to love as Christ loved, the more messy details we are presented with to test us. Yet as you say, the less problem we have with them.

I know that today I smile at messy details that before would have sent me searching for my trusty steed to do battle! Now either I am getting old and mellow, or finally the Lord is managing to soften my crusty heart.

I believe I have arrived at a point where the messy details are like the kidneys in the pie, not your favourite part, but still and all something you have to bear to enjoy the whole.

[Bill]

Amen Booty. Thanks for your thoughts.  I like to think of it as maturing in Christ.  However, there are times that I'm still quite immature but Christ is still working in me.

I guess my wording sound like I wanted to limit response to only Booty.  However, that is not what I meant.  Hopefully others will give us their thoughts.

Bill

[janine]

Hey, I like kidneys! :angry:

Well, rabbit ones anyway.  ;)

And hearts.

The livers even have their limited uses.

I have a messy detail to deal with... a sister in Christ who is loving and wonderful, but my polar opposite politically... whom I need to minister to, because last Wednesday's "Bible" discussion degenerated into a 'let's-all-be-Republicans-and turn-up-our-noses-at-homosexuals-while-we-bash-Ted-Kennedy' rally.  (The main defender of the anti-gay group looks just like Santa Claus... that was a surreal experience...)

Wouldn't it have been nice if poor Glenda had stayed in class long enough to witness the healing turn-around when some of us grabbed the tide & wrestled it back towards where it needed to go?  (I say "us" loosely.  All I contributed at that point was the mildest of the scathing remarks that came to mind...)

[Bill]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]Bill isn't it nice when you can use Sunday sevices to share His love? I really hate it when I have to attend to "messy details" and preach on some issue we are trying to stop in the ground before it springs forth to damage our congregation.

Really need to talk to my brothers as well, whenever we are discussing our sermon plans, they always leave the "messy details" to my own self. We need to share this duty.

Last Sunday I also had to deal with a complaint. We had planted the Venezuelan flag where it can be seen during services when all this trouble started and we commenced our non stop lessons on peace. It was brought to my attention that the unconverted daughter of one of our sisters had commented on the flag as inappropriate. Amazing how someone who has never attended a single class, sermon, vigil or prayer session in our congregation or any other congregation could assume the position of telling us what is appropriate or not. But that is as it is, it was explained that the flag was there because it is Venezuela that we are lifting up to the Lord and that flag is the symbol of Venezuela. I do hope Maria talks with the lass, actually I pray the lass comes to me directly. We have more urgent matters to discuss than the presence of a wee flag!!

There are times when people simply amaze me with their audacity!

--------------
Dios te bendiga
Booty
iglesia de Cristo
Puerto Piritu, Edo Anzoategui
Venezuela
[/quote]

Booty, although I was just filling in for our preacher.  My lesson was really a followup on his previous week lesson that dealt with "messy details".  As I see it, the more we help people with learning to love as Christ loved the less problem we all have with messy details.  My prayer is that I can  begin to love more as Christ loved and that each member of our congregation can do the same.  It will help us get beyond the "self" things that are causing heartache and unrest in our church.

I think I understand what you mean by "handling messy details" and in reality that was I was trying to do.

I would like your thoughts on this.

Bill

P.S.  I started a new topic so as not to distract from your letting us know what was going on in Venzuela



[!--EDIT|Bill|Dec. 20 2002,08:04--]

[James Rondon]

Kidneys in the pie?

[Booty]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote (James Rondon @ Dec. 20 2002,8:36)[/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]Kidneys in the pie?[/quote]
Steak and Kidney Pie. What Mum would serve when Granda was sucessful. Love it, but not the Kidneys!